September 2026
All columns and Brief analyses.
10 results
Roman telescope launches from Florida to map dark energy and distant worlds
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy lifted NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Florida on 30 August 2026. Named for the agency's first chief astronomer, the observatory is heading to sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2 to survey billions of stars and galaxies with a field of view far larger than Hubble's. NASA and the mission team say the 5- to 10-year work targets dark energy, dark matter and exoplanets, with first images in 2027 if the plan holds. The build cost 4.3 billion dollars.
Roman's cruise to L2 doubles as a months-long instrument checkout
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is flying 930,000 miles (1.5 million kilometres) from Earth to sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2, where the James Webb Space Telescope and Europe's Euclid probe already sit. A 30-day cruise is set before the instruments wake; Julie McEnery describes a roughly 100-day cruise overlapping a three-month checkout. NASA plans first public images for January 2027 after the Wide Field and Coronagraph instruments take test images.
Russian overnight strikes kill at least 12 in Kyiv and Boryspil
At least 12 people, including Ukrainian railway workers, were killed in a sixth consecutive night of Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region. Ukraine's air force reported downing nearly 200 drones and missiles in the barrage, which Russia said targeted military and energy infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan set up a Mecca pact secretariat in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan agreed to establish a permanent secretariat for their Mecca joint defence pact. The secretariat will be located in Saudi Arabia and initially headed by a Pakistani secretary-general for a three-year term. Representatives of the three countries met in Istanbul on Monday to strengthen their collective defence capabilities. The pact specifies that an armed attack on any of the three nations will be regarded as an attack on all.
Semiconductor shipments push South Korea's August exports up 68.7 per cent
South Korea's outbound shipments surged 68.7 per cent to 98.25 billion dollars in August, driven by record semiconductor exports that climbed 209 per cent to clear the 40 billion dollars threshold for a third consecutive month. Chips now account for 47.5 per cent of the country's total exports as hyperscalers including Google and Amazon raise spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. Imports rose 22.6 per cent to 63.51 billion dollars, yielding a 34.75 billion dollars trade surplus.
Siluanov returns to the G20 table in Asheville as European ministers shun him
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended the G20 talks in Asheville, marking his first in-person appearance since 2022. European ministers isolated him and refused to stand beside him for the customary group photo. Siluanov held a bilateral meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Donald Trump defended the invitation by telling reporters that he likes getting along with everybody. The European Union is preparing a further sanctions package against Russia.
Sinabung throws 3,500 metres of ash as Indonesia steps the alert to Level III
Mount Sinabung in Karo erupted at 10:17 a.m. local time on 31 August 2026, sending ash about 3,500 metres above the summit, or 5,960 metres above sea level in ANTARA News. The Geological Agency raised the alert at 12:30 p.m. to Level III, Phys.org's second-highest level. Phys.org writes a 6 kilometre crater exclusion; ANTARA News splits a 3 kilometre summit radius from a 6 kilometre south-southeast sector. Only Phys.org says no casualties were reported immediately.
The SCO Bishkek Declaration condemns the strikes on Iran and backs its NPT rights
The ten members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation signed the Bishkek Declaration at the close of a two-day summit in the Kyrgyz capital. The text treats military strikes on Iranian territory as a breach of the UN Charter, notes civilian deaths and economic damage, and says a settlement should be sought only by political and diplomatic means. It calls the NPT right to peaceful nuclear energy inalienable, offers condolences over Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and opposes unilateral coercive measures.
The UAE intercepts an Iranian drone and denies a strike on Al Minhad
The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted an Iranian drone over its territorial waters, calling it a blatant violation of sovereignty. The Defence Ministry separately dismissed an Iranian army claim of a strike on the Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai as false. Iran claimed the attack on Al Minhad was in retaliation for the killing of its Revolutionary Guards and civilians on Larak Island during renewed fire between the US and Iran.
Trump leaves the US line on Falklands sovereignty open
Donald Trump told reporters he reviews every position when asked whether he was reconsidering US support for British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. Washington officially takes no side but practically recognises British administration. The review is reportedly part of Pentagon measures to incentivise NATO allies like the UK to hit a 5 percent defence spending target. An unnamed US official separately suggested the stance could change if Britain missed defence spending commitments.